Campbelltown’s Anas Abu-Ganaba has taken out the NSW 60 metre sprint title at the Illawarra Track Challenge on Saturday.
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The 22-year-old edged 27-year-old Jake Lynch and 25-year-old Hayden Kovacic to claim gold in a time of 6.86 seconds. Lynch and Kovacic were separated by a photo finish, with both runners recording a time of 6.92.
The 60m dash was just one of a number of feature races on a high-quality night of racing at the Kerryn McCann Athletics Track.
The women’s 60m final was claimed by Holly Bender of Mounties Athletics Club in a time of 7.54. In another tight finish, Bender beat Luisa Healey of Sydney Unviersity and Jasmine Everett of UTS Norths. Wollongong’s Tierney Dunne finished third in the women’s under 20 60m sprint, behind Carlie McIver and Elena Delaveris.
The evening also saw athletes contest the state one mile championships. While the 60m sprint is a test of pure speed, the mile event is a test of athletic endurance, tactics and determination.
The men’s race was won by Stefan Music of Randwick Botany Harriers in a time of 4:26.25. Music defeated Sutherland’s Oli Raimond and Illawong Revesby Workers’ Mark Simpson.
Kembla Joggers’ Finlay McPhillips was fourth across the line and finished second in the under 20s event, behind Raimond.
The women’s mile was a closely fought contest, with Sydney Uni’s Melinda Witchard edging Victoria Mitchell by just 0.27 of a second. Witchard won in a time of 4:45.92. Illawong Revesby Workers’ Imogen Stewart was third.